Adult Blog

About the Book

Tragedy brings heartache to the community of Apple Blossom when a car takes the life of Mary Noel Simmons's best friend—her dog. The loss nearly destroys Mary Noel's spirit. As the injured six year old lies in the hospital, traumatized and silent, the medical bills are piling up quickly with no way for her parents to pay them.

​Filled with kindness and romance, this story of hope and faith will warm your heart.

About the Author

‘Robin’s Reward’, released in April, 2015, was her first full-length novel. This inspirational contemporary romance is the first installment of the ‘Bonita Creek Trilogy’. The series is set in June's favorite location in California—the Mendocino coastal region.
June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and sewing industry blogs in the past few years. She wrote a recurring column for a sewing magazine published in Great Britain and contributed several other articles to sewing and craft magazines published in the United States.
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When she’s not writing, reading, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, photography, and visiting art and history museums, parks, and botanical gardens. She also enjoys touring historic homes {especially when they're decorated for Christmas!} and strolling around the many historic Gold Rush towns in the Sierra Nevada foothills. In the summertime you can find June at a variety of county fairs and the California State Fair admiring the sewing projects, quilts, and handiwork other inspired seamstresses, quilters, craftspeople, and artists have created.

Snippet from Chapter 1

Humming her favorite patriotic tune as she worked, Amber Kellen was startled when the sharp click of the heels of her principal, Dorothy Griffin, echoed loudly on the linoleum floor of her classroom. Amber stopped pinning the brightly hued autumn landscapes painted by her six-year-old students on the front bulletin board in her classroom and turned to greet Mrs. Griffin. The affable and capable leader of the staff and students of Apple Blossom County School wore a tense expression that caused her normally relaxed face to appear pale and drawn.

The young first-grade teacher gasped as the realization that something might be seriously amiss gripped her heart. As the principal approached, Mrs. Griffin knit her eyebrows together and shook her head sadly. Amber had noticed that the school administrator always spoke formally no matter what the situation. It was likely as a result of her university degree in Shakespearean literature.

“Amber, I regret having to greet you with such horrific news this Monday morning. Especially since we’re returning from our Thanksgiving weekend break.”

“What’s happened?” Amber heard a slight tremor in her voice.

“One of your students was critically injured in a tragic accident yesterday afternoon.”

Her open palm flying to cover her heart, Amber squeaked, “Who? What happened?”

“Mary Noel Simmons was hit by a car on the road in front of her house.”

“Oh, no,” Amber shivered involuntarily.

“As you can imagine, the driver of the vehicle is absolutely distraught over what occurred. The police investigation found that the driver hit the little girl and her dog through no fault of his own. It was plain and simply a freak accident.” The middle-aged administrator paused briefly. “Apparently the dog’s leash got tangled around the bicycle’s handlebars. When the dog took off across the road to chase a cat, Mary Noel got dragged out into the street too. The pair darted out from behind a big travel trailer that was parked in front of a neighbor’s property. What a shock for everyone involved.”

“Oh, this is terrible! I’m almost afraid to ask—how is Mary Noel?”

“Her parents say it could have been a lot worse. As it is, Mary Noel has a compound fracture in her left leg and a broken wrist that will require several surgeries. She has a lot of cuts and bruises along with a mild concussion. Fortunately, Mary Noel avoided a severe concussion or more serious permanent complications because she was wearing her helmet.” Mrs. Griffin fidgeted with her hands and sighed deeply.

Amber prepared herself for the worst because it was obvious that the administrator had more bad news to share. “According to Mary Noel’s mother, Barbara Simmons, those aren’t the worse injuries, I’m afraid.” Silence filled the classroom as both women processed the profound ramifications of the accident.

“Please tell me everything,” Amber said. “I’d rather hear it from you now than let my imagination run wild.” She physically braced herself against her sturdy, wooden teacher’s desk for support.

“As you wish. Mary Noel was traumatized by the site of her little dog, Cocoa, dying in the accident. By all accounts, the two were inseparable. Since Mary Noel didn’t lose consciousness, she saw and heard everything. Even though the dog died almost instantly, there was a copious amount of blood and—well, you get the picture.”

Amber detected some tender emotions surfacing in her principal’s usual stalwart manner. Mrs. Griffin’s voice was shaky as she continued. “Mary Noel has completely withdrawn herself into silence since the accident. That little girl hasn’t muttered a single word, not even to her mom, dad, or grandparents. Barbara Simmons told me the doctor’s opinion is that it’s not Mary Noel’s injuries that have caused the youngster to withdraw. No, the physician firmly believes it was seeing her best friend, Cocoa, killed that has shocked this little girl into silence.”​